Goa may ban 4 ferocious dog breeds

NT Reporter

Panaji

The state government has identified four ferocious dog breeds that are likely to be banned in Goa following months of internal discussions, public suggestions and legal consultations.

Senior government officials said the breeds identified for the proposed ban are Pitbull, Rottweiler, Cane Corso and Dogo Argentino. The proposal has been
submitted to the government and will be implemented once it receives formal approval.

A source in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department said there had earlier been speculation about which breeds would be banned, but no decision had been finalised at that time. “We had invited suggestions from the public, NGOs and animal welfare groups and after considering these inputs we will proceed with the ban,” the source said.

The process began after the state government passed the Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) law aimed at regulating the breeding and domestication of ferocious animals and banning the import of such breeds.

Officials said that initially five dog breeds were under consideration and representations were sought from animal activists and stakeholders before narrowing the list. “Once the proposal is approved by the government, the banned dog breeds will be officially notified,” the official said.

Sources said that once the notification comes into force, the notified breeds will not be permitted in the state. However, dogs of these breeds already present in Goa will not be removed but will be subjected to mandatory sterilisation to prevent further breeding.

In July 2025, the Goa government enacted the Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Bill, 2025, which authorises authorities to prohibit the ownership, breeding, sale and import of certain dog breeds classified as ferocious.

The legislation was introduced following concerns over several serious dog attacks reported in recent years that resulted in injuries and deaths.

Under the law, owners of dogs belonging to declared ferocious breeds must register their pets and sterilise them within 60 days and obtain official certification. Failure to comply may attract a jail term of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000.